Shower unit



Jan. 14, 1941. R. HETHERINGTON SHOWER UNIT 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May '7,1938 1941- R. HETHERINGTON 2,228,626

SHOWER UNIT Filed May 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 2UNITED STATES PA ENT Q' QE' 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a shower unit intended for use withbath-tubs, particularly with tubs which have already been installedandin shower stalls.

A purpose of the invention is to provide novel and inexpensive structureof the character indicated for easy connection and disconnection withany of the widely variant bath tubs already installed or/ and to beinstalled.

A further purpose is to provide a spray unit having inside and outsidepipes from acommon inlet fitting at the top, oneor more valved sprayheads from the side, a safety thermostatic valve outlet at the bottomand removable support at top and side or bottom respectively from amixed hot and cold water-inlet pipe and a water inlet,

fitting of the tub or a stall wall.

A further purpose is to surround a water inlet pipe with an outsidedischarge pipe having one or more valved spray heads from an upperportion or upper portions thereof and. a thermostatically controlledsafety discharge to waste from the lower end. I

A further purpose is to present a shower unit as an easy and convenientsafe hand hold for the shower user.

A further purpose is to brace'a shower unit near its lower end from abath tub fitting, preferably from one or both ofthe interior curvedwalls ofa bath tubwater-inlet fitting, while supporting the unit fromthe top by suitable connection to a preferably downwardly directed mixedhot-andcold water supply pipe.

A furtherpurpose is to provide a novel bracket for easy application atone end to the inside walls of Variant water inlet fittings of differentbath tubs and at the other end adapted to be vertically adjustable alongand in use clamped to the body of a spray unit.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have electedto show one main form only of my invention showing howevera modification thereof and selecting a form that is practical andefiicient-in operation and which well illustrates the principlesinvolved.

Figure 1 is a Vertical elevation, in .part sectioned, showing adesirable. embodiment of my spray'unit applied to a conventional bathtub and with diagrammatic'showing ofhot and cold connections.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken section. ,of the spray unit of Figure 1,omitting a clamp vconnectionflthereof tothe bath tub water supplyfitting.

Figure 2a is a fragmentary section oi-analternative form.

Figure 3 is a broken sectional elevation corresponding to, armodifiedlower portion of FigureZ and showing clamp structure omitted iD iQ -Ie 2but shown to smaller scale in Figure l.

Figured is a section of Figure 3 taken upon the line 4-4 thereof. 1

Figure 5.is a view corresponding to Figure 3 but showing the bracketstructure connected to a bath tub waterinlet fitting in a way differentfrom that of Figure 3. I

F ure 6 is a fra mentary s levatio part y sectioned, of an alternativeform.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to thedrawings:

My shower unit, 9 in;Fig ures 1 and2 is shown assembled for useremovablywith a conventional bath tub, 10 having a conventionalwater-inletfitting l I. Hot and cold water supply valves 12 and l3respectively, are indicated in hot and cold .Water supply pipes 14 and15 that, connect intermediate their valves I2 and 13 with a mixedhotand-cold water pipe I 6 having upward and downward branches, I! andI8 respectively which through valves 19 and 20 feedshOWer supply 2] andnormal tub fitting ll. Either valve l9 or valve 22 can be used as alimit to speed of water inlet and the other can be used tOI Tn the water,onor ofi.

The shower'unit 9, is shown as set in approximately vertical position aswould p the'case Where it is to stand in a tub and where it 'is to,bestayed by a tub inlet fitting. Somefeatures of the invention areequally operative with theunit in other positions, even in horizontalposition, In

the illustration the inlet end is at the top where it is threadedremovably upon and supported .by the .outlet end 23, of the, fitting 2|.Toward its lower end it is bracedfromswinging movement inany directionbyan adjustable hookconnection into the open end of the tub fitting l I.

This h o ect on s emit e b c amp bracket 24 which at;,its inner end istightened by scre s 25. Thec am ca s ese ii onthebgd of the w r n t a aneigh ;A i Timb end=thebracket is provided with cooperating upwardlypresented outer 'and'Li'nne'r prongs '26. 'and 21, .of vwhiclitl'ieinner pron 21 extend'slupvvardly from a sleeve 28 upon a rod'portiemzafof fthe bracket. 1 Alsuitable .set 'sc'rewjfl hol'ds jthe'sleeve .28 and'therebythe prong 26 to ,bestaccornrno'date thespread .of,the prongs 26 and '21 into the fittin H, 'rnaintaining the prongs firmlyagainst the contactwalls of the fitting ,l l.

It will be understood that the fitting M, intended for any usual orsuitable tub fitting, whether or not already installed, may have any ofquite widely difierent dimensions. Usually however as illustrated inFigures 1 and 3, the fitting outlet is large enough to receive both ofthe prongs 26 and 21, so set as to engage opposite inside walls ofthefitting. However the bracket may connect .to a fitting I I as inFigure 5. From its character it will be seen that the outlet may be ofsmaller bore than the bore of outlet I I. Here the outer prong 26 onlyof the bracket hooks into the open end of the fitting and the innerprong 21 presents its outer edge to the outside of the fitting.

llt will be seen that whether or not both or one only of the prongs 26and 21 as thus presented fit within the outlet opening of the fittingthe bracket is blocked at its prongs from any horizontal movement,whether laterally or longitudinally of the bracket. Firm support of thebody'of the shower unit from any horizontal movement is thus secured. f

It also will be seen that the shower unit can be connected anddisconnected easily and quickly. By loosening the screws the bracket 24will slip downwardly to release its hook engagement with tub fitting I land the unit may be then unscrewed from the permanent fitting Z'I.

4 Replacement is equally easy, the unitbeing fir screwed at the top intothe fitting 2| and being afterward firmly supported irom horizontalmovement by sliding the bracket 24 upwardly into firm hook engagementwith the tub fitting I I, as already explained, setting the bracket bytightening the screws 25. Suitable washers-such as that at 28-may beused to prevent leakage;

When the shower unit 9 is to be connected and disconnected repeatedly at"the same tub there will be usually no change in the set spread of theprongs 26 and 21 and no change in the set length of the bracket; forwhich reason I prefer to have the set screws 30 and 3| respectivelycontrolling the setting of the sleeve 28 and of the length of thebracket, less readily operated than the more frequently operated screws25 controlling the clamping of the bracket to the body of the unit. 3

The body of the shower unit as shown in Figure 1 comprises a head 32,carrying inside and outside pipes 33 and 34, thermostat element 35,waste valve 36 and outlet L31.

The head 32, axially bored and counterbored, presents the washer 28' andupwardly directed threaded counterb'ore for connection to the nipple 39threaded into fitting 2 I. Downwardly it gives threaded support to theinside and outside pipes 33 and 34. 1

The outside pipe 34 extends downwardly some distance beyond the lowerend of the inside pipe 33. The thermostat element 35 lies a little belowand across the end of the inside pipe. The water valve 36 is operativelyconnected to the thermostat el-ement 35. The valve 316 closes against avalve seat 38. The washer at 28' may be used to throttle by substitutinghere a washer having an opening just large enough to pass the desired-volume of water. This means of throttling may be used in addition to orinstead of the valve 2 2.

The valve 36, valve seat 38 and thermostat element may be supported inany suitable way. As shown they are held rigidly at theirupper .end uponan inverted U stand 39 having strap arms 40, 41I extending upwardly fromand rigidly connected with a collar 42 by which the valve seat iscarried. The flange 43 of the collar is held between the lower end 44 ofIlhe outer pipe and the upper end of the elbow lay a coupling 45. InFigure 3 the U is given support from trunnions 4-6 threaded into theouter pipe at 41.

The water from the inner pipe is delivered into the outer pipeimmediately adjacent the thermostat. In the structure of Figures 1 and 2the outer pipe is used as additional mixing space and the shower headsare connected directly with it, but in Figure 3 the heads are connectedwith the inner pipe and the outer pipe is maintained at a very muchlower temperature than would otherwise be the case, suiting this outerpipe to use by the b ather as a hand hold for steadying purposes.

In Figure 2 discharge of the water takes place directly from the lowerend of the inner pipe into the outer pipe just above the thermostat. Allof the water follows this path, and discharges through the holes 48,flowing back up the outer pipe to the shower outlets. The water spreadsout into the outer pipe, falls down along the coned guide 49 and passesalong its edgesand through the openings 50 into the space 5| about thethermostalt. V

In the form shown in Figure 3, when the valve at the bottom is closed apart only of the flow discharges from the lower end of the inner pipe at52 and is directed toward the thermostat.

The thermostats and their valve connections with the valves are readilystandardized for any desired temperature of thermostatic Valveoperation. However, in view of the possible desire to adjust fordifferent temperatures, I have shown an adjustment between thethermostat and the valve. r

The adjustment is shown by means of sleeve 53 which is threaded uponstud 54 connected with the thermostat and in turn threads into thevalve. If the valve be held stationary and a different number ofthreads'be used upon the inner and outer surfaces. of a sleeve adifierential action may be secured, by which very fine and exactadjustments are possible. On the other hand,

the valve may be adjusted upon the sleeve or the sleeve upon the studfor a coarse adjustment. A look nut 55 is shown upon the stud.

Whatever the construction in this particular, the mixed hot and coldwater supply is'delivered from the inner pipe into the annular spacebetween it and the outer pipe and is tapped from it to the individualshowerheads 56, 51-, 58 through individual valves 59, 60, 6|.

In FigureB a straight discharge mouth 31 is shown taking the place ofthewaste discharge outlet 3I in order that more ,convenientlythe showerunit may be rested in. the bottom within a well 62 connectingwithanydischargeoutlet 63 to the sewer such as can conveniently be placed, forexample, in the near ,orinany other Wall of a shower stall. A washer'64.may be used between the well and the collar 45, if the structuregenerally of Figure 2be followed, or between the lower end of theunitwhatever shape-and the well in order to prevent regurgitation ofdischarged water on theieet ofthe user and at the same time to steadythe showeriunit at the lower. end. a V Structures having coaxial pipesas described, supported at the topand side overa tub and supported atthe top and bottom in a shower stall have been used quite successfully.7 I" It will beievident that my spray nozzle unit has advantagesentirely independent of whether it be vertical or horizontal or at anangle in 'use,

and independently of the manner ,in which the inlet end of the unit issupported ,or the opposite end is supported .Qrstayed. The passageofythe inletwater through the inner pipe and, subject to -a thermostaticdischarge in case of. excessive heat, through .the outer pipe, ordirectly from the inner pipe provide'safety-features not otherwiseobtainable. In either case the free discharge of hot water protectsagainst overheating of the outerpipe, and where the water does notdirectly engage the outer pipe provides a hand hold definitelymaintained at low temperature.

It will be evident that the purpose is primarily to produce a spray vandthat I aminterested therefore in the production of the spray rather thanin the question of whether the openings through which the water issprayedtechnically are classified as spray heads or merely as sprayopenings; my function being carried out in the form-of Figures 1 and 2for example, with any type of openings independently-of whether there beseparate projecting spray heads or not. This thought has been carriedout in Figure 2a. in which a very much cheaper construction is shownthan that in Figure 2. A much thinner outer pipe is shown in 9', havinga number of separate openings at B. The pipe connects with the plug 32also in a different way, it is merely shrunk upon the plug permissiblybeing tinned and sweated into contact. The term shower is intended tocover this form also and the shower head in this case is valved becauseof the valves controlling the inflow of the water into the unit.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident tothose skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spray nozzle unit comprising an inlet inner pipe, an enclosingouter pipe with which an outlet lower end of the inlet pipecommunicates, a thermostat and an emergency discharge to waste, bothlocated in the outer pipe below the outlet end of the inner pipe and ata point adjacent to the point at which the two pipes communicate andallowing quick outlet of water supplied by the inlet pipe, and a showernozzle connected with one of the pipes above the discharge to waste.

2, A shower unit comprising an inlet pipe open near its lower end, athermostatically controlled emergency discharge valve to waste locatedbelow the lower end of the inlet pipe, an outer pipe with which theinner pipe communicates and a spray nozzle connecting with the outerpipe.

3. A shower unit, comprising an inlet pipe having an outlet lower end, athermostatically controlled discharge valve to waste at the lower end ofthe outer pipe and adjacent the lower end of the pipe, an outer pipeenclosing the inner pipe, and a spray nozzle connecting with one of thepipes above the lower end of the inlet pipe and located outside of theouter pipe.

4. A spray nozzle unit, comprising an inner supporting pipe dischargingfrom its lower end adapted to connect with a mixed hot and cold watersupply, a thermostatically controlled emergency outlet discharge valveto waste adjacent to the lower end of the inner pipe, means forsupporting the :unit adjacent the outlet to waste, anbuterpipcssurroundin the inner. p p lip- .portedat one end from it, and aspray nozzle receiving .water supply from one of the pipes and'locateclabove the emergency discharge valve.

.5. :In av spray nozzle unit, .a pair of communicatingconcentric pipes,the .inner adapted to receive water inlet at one end and to dischargefrom the other end, a spray, nozzle connected with one of the pipes and;a thermostatically controlled discharge valve toawaste responding tothe temperature in'the inner pipe and located below thesprayynozzle,-the .flowforthe spray .nozzle and discharge valve to wastedividing at the outlet of the inner pipe and following different pathstherefrom.

6. In a shower unit a downwardly directed tub water inlet a .waterinletabove the tub, and

a spray nozzle unit adapted for connection-with the inlet abovethe tub,and. comprising a .pipe, a plurality of spray nozzles connected at,different'distancesalong the length of the pipe, a thermostaticallyoperated valve at the lowerend of the pipe, adapted to dischargeexcessively hot water and a clamp connection with the unit engaging thedownwardly directed inlet.

7. A generally vertical shower unit adapted to be attached to a showerconnection at the top and comprising an outer pipe closed at the top, aninner pipe connected with the shower connection, a thermostatic valve inthe lower part of the outer pipe and adapted to be afi'ected by thetemperature of the water from the inner pipe, a plurality of showerheads connected to spray the water from one of the pipes at differentlevels along the height of the outer pipe and. a waste valve controlledby the thermostat and adapted to discharge water through the waste whenthe temperature of the water supply is excessively high.

8. In a shower unit for use with a bath tub, an outer pipe closed at theupper end, an inner pipe connected to the water supply, within the outerpipe and communicating with. it at its lower end, a plurality of showerheads connected with one of the pipes, and a thermostatic valve at thelower end of the outer pipe adapted to discharge water with excessivetemperature of the water supply.

9. A spray nozzle standard for use in a tub and comprising inner andouter pipes, adapted for connection of the inner pipe with an inletwater supply at the top, the outer pipe being there closed upon theinner pipe, a thermostatically operated waste valve at the lower end ofthe outer pipe, a thermostat therefor, the inner and outer pipesconnecting at thebottom of the inner pipe, and spray heads connectingfrom the outer pipe.

10. In a shower unit for use with a bath tub and with an outsidewater-supply fitting above the tub, an inlet inside pipe connected toreceive water from the fitting and an outlet outside pipe, connected onewith the other at their lower ends, with the outside pipe extendingdownwardly beyond the inside pipe, 2. valved spray head from the side ofthe outside pipe, a vertically adjustable bracket from the outside pipefor laterally supporting the unit toward the lower end thereof, a wastevalve at the lower end of the outside pipe and thermostatic safetycontrol mechanism inside the outside pipe between the valve and lowerend of the inside pipe for opening the valve if the temperature of waterpassing the inside pipe becomes abnormally high.

11. A unit for spray nozzle use comprising an outer pipe closed at theupper end, an inner pipe therein adapted for connection with watersupply at the upper end, spray nozzle heads connected withthe innerpipe, walls forming a thermostat compartment closed from the outer pipeand into'which the inner pipe discharges at its lower end, a thermostattherein and a discharge valve to waste controlled by the thermostat,

12. A tub having an inlet, a spray nozzle standard adapted for use inthe tub, comprising an outer pipe closed at the upper end, an inner pipetherein connecting at the upper end with a water supply and therebyholding the upper ends of both pipes, an outlet thermostatic valveadapted to discharge excessively warm water, spray nozzles connectingwith the inner pipe and a clamp connected to the outer pipe and havingremovable connection with the inlet to the tub.

13. A generally vertical shower unit for use with a bath tub and with alower water-supply fitting of the tub and a top support-and-inletmember, a pipe below the inlet, a plurality of vertically spaced valvedspray heads from the side of the 'pipe, an outlet valve to waste at thebottom of the pipe, thermostatic mechanism above the valve controllingthe operation thereof and a vertically adjustable laterally extendingbracket engaging the pipe at its inner end and adapted at its'outer endto rigidly connect to the lower water-supply fitting.

. 14.'A generally vertical shower unit for use with a bathtub, with alower water supply fitting of thetub and a top support and inlet, a pipeconnected with the inlet, a plurality of vertically spaced valved sprayheads from the side of the pipe, an outlet valve at the bottom to waste,thermostatic mechanism above the valve controlling the operationthereof, a vertically adjustable bracket, extending laterally from thepipe, and a pair of upwardly presented relatively adjustable prongs atthe outer end of the bracket adapted rigidlyto connect to thewater-supply fitting with one of the prongs hooking into the 20 open endof the fitting.

ROBERT HETHERINGTON..

